Burton Latimer football club pays tribute to its biggest supporter

Jay Brewer from Burton Latimer underwent several years of treatment in both the UK and America to give him the best chance of beating the cancer, but he sadly died on Thursday, January 7.

He may have been young but he touched the lives of so many, including Northants Telegraph readers who helped raise £7,000 so his dad, sister and brother could go with him to America for proton therapy treatment.

And the chairman of Jay’s team, Burton Park Wanderers, has said his death will be a ‘massive loss’ to everyone at the club.

Chairman Stewart Glendenning said: “Young lads of Jay’s age follow Manchester United and Arsenal, but Jay never did.

“Despite all of his own personal battles that he had in life, his absolute passion was the blue and black of Burton Park Wanderers.”

He said it was a privilege to know Jay and added: “Jay was Burton Park through and through and he cheered the boys on as if it was Real Madrid or Barcelona.

“What mattered to him was Burton Park.

“The blue and black shirt meant so much to him and that’s why he meant so much to us.

“Jay was treated equally, the same as everyone else, but he was just a very special boy.

“I have been involved in football a long time and I can honestly say I have never met a child that has so much passion for his local football club.”

A minute’s silence followed by the ‘biggest round of applause’ will take place at the Burton Park Wanderers’ game on January 30.

It will be a celebration of Jay’s life and Mr Glendenning said they will do their best to get a win for Jay.

He said: “I can’t promise that we will win, but we will do our utmost.

“It will be a Jay Brewer eleven playing, whoever we are playing.

“But the result doesn’t matter, what matters on that day is that people remember Jay for who he was and what he enjoyed.

“The result doesn’t really matter, what’s most important is Jay’s life.”

Admission prices on the day will be reduced, with donations being taken for a charity to be chosen by Jay’s parents Sharon and Steve.

The club is hoping to have T-shirts printed with Jay’s picture on them and they are trying to get every age group from the club represented at the game.

Mr Glendenning said: “There’s a light that has been extingished at our club that will never be re-lit.

“There will be people who come along that will be characters and people that we adopt at the club but we will never be able to replace Jay, that hole will never be filled.

“That light has gone out, but I have promised his family that his memory, as long as I am involved with the club, will always live on.

“He will always be remembered.”

To read the club statement following Jay’s death, click here